Friday second NRL Round 4 match is between St George Illawarra Dragons and Brisbane Broncos with the opening kick to commence at 20:00. The game is to be played at WIN Stadium which see’s home team St George Illawarra Dragons hold favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between St George Illawarra Dragons and Brisbane Broncos.
WHERE AND WHEN: 20:00 | Friday 28/03/2014 @ WIN Stadium
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Odds Comparison:
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| St George Illawarra Dragons | 1.72 | 1.83 | 1.80 | 1.83 | 1.72 | 1.80 |
| Brisbane Broncos | 2.15 | 2.00 | 2.05 | 2.00 | 2.15 | 2.05 |
All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
Preview:
After accounting for the Tigers in round 1 and the Warriors away in round 2, the Dragons made it three from three with another solid win last week at Remondis Stadium, defeating the Sharks 14 – 12.
Brett Morris opened the scoring in just the fourth minute for the Dragons who dominated the majority of the play in the first half. A spectacular second try to Morris – his third for the season – just before half-time, saw the Dragons take a deserved 14 – 6 lead into the half-time break.
The Dragons faced a spirited effort from the home-side and despite not being able to add to their score in the second half, were able to hold on for a narrow win.
It was a game that the 2013 Dragons probably would not have won and new five-eighth Gareth Widdop continued his spectacular form and is the central figure in the Dragons attack.
The Broncos have also started the season well and it was only a Roosters try in the final minute of last week’s game that has prevented them from also being three wins from three starts.
The Broncos, who defeated the Bulldogs (away) and the Cowboys (home) in the first two rounds, continued their good form against the reigning premiers last week.
For the third consecutive time, the Broncos scored first and within the first ten minutes of the game, and continued to be the better side for the majority of the match.
When half-back Ben Hunt, who was named man-of-the-match in a losing side, crossed in the 72nd minute, it appeared the home-side was set for a much deserved victory.
However, a short-kick off to resume play wasn’t defused and allowed the Roosters to score the first of two late tries, delivering a heart-breaking loss to the Broncos side and supporters.
The Dragons have had a good start to the year and their confidence will be high but it’ll have to be as they come up against a Broncos side that is also going well and improving each week.
Brisbane have won their last five against the Dragons since 2011, four of those matches by 8 points or less and whilst this will be another close one, the even money about the Broncos given their record over the Dragons and recent form, is too hard to pass up.
Teams:
St George Illawarra Dragons:
Adam Quinlan, Brett Morris, Dylan Farrell, Gerard Beale, Jason Nightingale, Gareth Widdop, Sam Williams, Tyson Frizell, Mitch Rein, Dan Hunt, Leeson Ah Mau, Ben Creagh, Trent Merrin. Interchange: Jack de Belin, Kyle Stanley, Joel Thompson, Michael Cooper, Jack Stockwell, Bronson Harrison
Ins: Jack Stockwell, Bronson Harrison
Outs: None
Other unavailables: Michael Witt (shoulder, indefinite), Josh Dugan (knee, round five), Matt Groat (groin, round five)
Brisbane Broncos:
Ben Barba, Daniel Vidot, Jack Reed, Dale Copley, Lachlan Maranta, Josh Hoffman, Ben Hunt, Josh McGuire, Andrew McCullough, Corey Parker (c), Alex Glenn, Sam Thaiday, Matt Gillett. Interchange: Corey Oates, Martin Kennedy, Todd Lowrie, Jarrod Wallace, David Hala
Ins: Josh McGuire
Outs: None
Other unavailables: Justin Hodges (Achilles, round six), David Stagg (knee, round five), Jordan Kahu (knee, round five), Mitchell Dodds (knee, season), Ashley Taylor (shoulder, round 18), Ben Hannant (hamstring, indefinite)
News:
Nothing much surprises Broncos coach Anthony Griffin these days.
Not his unfancied Broncos’ encouraging NRL season start.
Nor Friday night opponents St George Illawarra’s 3-0 run.
So no wonder Griffin anticipates star fullback Josh Dugan making an early return from his knee injury for the Dragons against the Broncos in Wollongong.
“I think he is due back next week so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him run out tomorrow night, he is not far away,” said Griffin of Dugan, who was injured in the pre-season Charity Shield clash.
“His running game at fullback is as good as there is.”
High-flying Dragons winger Brett Morris’ early nomination for try of the year last round also did not seem to be a revelation to Griffin.
He has put the entire Broncos squad – not just Morris’ opposite number Lachlan Maranta – on red alert as the NSW flyer again looks to ignite an exciting backline also boasting fellow in-form winger Jason Nightingale.
“The two wingers they have got they have done everything in the game,” Griffin said.
“They have won grand finals, played for their country and State of Origin.
“It really helps the team when they have those type of guys in form as they are at the moment.
“It is the whole team’s job to scramble and keep those guys at bay.”
Griffin added: “The Dragons have played some great attacking football. They have deserved their three wins.”
Brisbane have also turned heads – only two last-gasp tries that sealed the Sydney Roosters’ 30-26 last round win denied the Broncos a 3-0 season start.
“We were all disappointed with what happened. I guess we will find out how we handled it tomorrow night,” Griffin said.
“I thought we had improved last week from when we had played the Cowboys but we weren’t strong enough to earn the result. That was the big lesson out of it.”
Veteran centre Justin Hodges is still about four weeks away from returning from his achilles tendon injury but Griffin reckons it can’t come soon enough.
“I hope he gets back soon, he is annoying the hell out of us,” Griffin said with a smile.
“He will be a while yet but he is going alright.”